I think abundance is a way of thinking and a way of rethinking about our lives and the world. What would the world look like if people everywhere caught onto these kinds of ideas? I have learned from practicing Nonviolent Communication that it is very possible - and often so enriching - to approach our relationships and conflicts with an intention of meeting everyone's needs. Yes, we really can. If we let go of our specific ideas of the way we want things to happen, and we focus on what's ultimately most important for all parties, we can, with practice and patience, find a way that works. To me, this is about coming from a place, a state of mind, where we believe that abundance is possible.
Last weekend, we had the pleasure of going to a house-raising. Our friend, who designs and builds traditional timber-framed homes, had taken several months to design and pre-cut the entire frame for their new house. They invited all their friends to come for one day to help "raise" the frame. Imagine 25 people working in tandem lifting, pulling on ropes, pounding sledgehammers and levering prybars to move huge wooden posts and beams - a job for which they usually hire cranes! And to top it off, the frame itself is held together with not a single nail. It all fits together like a highly-elaborate Tinkertoy, secured with wooded pegs that are pounded in with hammers.
When I hear about "the bad economy", I find it easy to fall down the slippery slope of fear into scarcity mode. I would describe both scarcity and abundance as self-reinforcing loops - the more we sow, the more we reap, and the more we have new seeds to sow again more of the same. Gladly, I've been reminded recently that abundance can be found and cultivated, even in hard times.
In Perth, Ontario, we've been thoroughly enjoying the beginning of summer, which has brought with it, among other things, the opening of our farmers' market and lots of fresh locally-grown food. I find that something to celebrate! For a few weeks now, I've been doing barter with a farmer friend, helping out at their market stall and on their farm in exchange for organic veggies.
Last weekend, we had the pleasure of going to a house-raising. Our friend, who designs and builds traditional timber-framed homes, had taken several months to design and pre-cut the entire frame for their new house. They invited all their friends to come for one day to help "raise" the frame. Imagine 25 people working in tandem lifting, pulling on ropes, pounding sledgehammers and levering prybars to move huge wooden posts and beams - a job for which they usually hire cranes! And to top it off, the frame itself is held together with not a single nail. It all fits together like a highly-elaborate Tinkertoy, secured with wooded pegs that are pounded in with hammers. 
When I hear about "the bad economy", I find it easy to fall down the slippery slope of fear into scarcity mode. I would describe both scarcity and abundance as self-reinforcing loops - the more we sow, the more we reap, and the more we have new seeds to sow again more of the same. Gladly, I've been reminded recently that abundance can be found and cultivated, even in hard times.
